Nepeta plant named ‘Balpurrlu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nepeta  plant named ‘Balpurrlu’, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Nepeta x faassenii.

Variety denomination: ‘Balpurrlu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant botanically known as Nepeta x faassenii and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balpurrlu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, the Netherlands during August 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Nepeta cultivars having a long flowering season, large inflorescences, and an upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Nepeta cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Nepeta x faassenii breeding selection coded C052-3, not patented, characterized by its light violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2016 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2016 in Hem, the Netherlands and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balpurrlu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant:

-   -   1. Medium violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having darker violet-blue colored flowers, larger inflorescences, and a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Nepeta cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Walker's Low’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Walker's Low’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Walker's Low’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have green-colored foliage which         is different from the grey-green colored foliage of plants of         ‘Walker's Low’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a longer bloom period than         plants of ‘Walker's Low’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balpurrlu’. The plants were approximately 14 weeks old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 7 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balpurrlu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balpurrlu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2020 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 14 weeks old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 7 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average high of 69.3° F. (20.7° C.) to an average low of 63.6° F. (17.6° C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Nepeta x faassenii ‘Balpurrlu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Nepeta x faassenii breeding             selection coded C052-3, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 9 to 11 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial;             moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 (−30° F. to −20° F./−34.4° C. to             −28.9° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 22.0 cm         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching slightly decumbent,             pinching enhances lateral branching. Quantity of branches             per plant: Approximately 5 main branches, each having up to             6 axillary branches.         -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately             10.0 cm Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of             central internode: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color of young and mature stem: 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 8 to 10. Fragrance: Moderate minty. Form:             Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole at acute angle to stem with blade             perpendicular. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate with slightly             rounded teeth. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Shallowly cordate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to NN137B with 137A and venation of 146C.             Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest             to 147B with venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             146C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balpurrlu’ is a long-day facultative,             freely flowering blooming from spring through summer under             outdoor growing conditions.         -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 6 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal, dense, multi-flowered             head-like cyme. Quantity of open inflorescences per plant:             Approximately 6. Fragrance: Moderate minty. Length or height             of inflorescence: Approximately 5.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Width of             inflorescence: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of fully open             flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 3 to 12.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to             3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Clavate. Length:             Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 155D and 90A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate with a bell-shaped tube, upper lip             of two lobes and lower lip having three lobes. Aspect:             Facing upward and outward. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Depth: Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Upper lip lobes.—Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 2.5 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper             (inner) surface when first and fully open: 90D. Color of             lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: NN155D with             margin of 90D.         -   Lower lip, lateral lobes.—Shape: Orbicular. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 1.5 mm.             Width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Moderately pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open:             90D. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully             open: NN155D with margin of 90D.         -   Lower lip, central lobe.—Shape: Fan-like. Margin: Crenate.             Apex: Emarginate. Length from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Densely pubescent at center at throat opening.             Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely pubescent in             center with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner)             surface when first and fully open: 94B to 94D with NN155D in             center. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully             open: 94D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width at             opening: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width at base: 1.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of inner surface: NN155D with spots of 94A. Color of             outer surface: NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 tips. Length: Approximately             8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.             Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of inner surface: 146D. Color of outer surface: 146D             occasionally lightly tinted with N186A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute             angle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             146D occasionally tinted with 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament length             of free portion: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Filament             color: NN155D, translucent. Anther shape: Divergent, opening             by a common slit. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 155D. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Bifurcate. Stigma length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 90A. Style length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Style color: NN155D with an overlay of             90D that is heavy near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Nepeta has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant named ‘Balpurrlu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 